By John Fullah
Sierra Leone police have detained the Secretary General of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), Lansana Dumbuya, more than 24 hours after he reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning over remarks made at a recent party meeting, party officials said on Tuesday.
Dumbuya was invited by the CID following a decision last week by the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) to fine the APC 350,000 leones ($—) for comments made during the gathering that the Commission said breached the Political Parties Act and its code of conduct.
The PPRC said the remarks contained inflammatory and provocative language with the potential to undermine public order and political tolerance, and warned political parties against hate speech, threats or incitement at public events.
Police have not publicly disclosed the specific statements under investigation, nor explained the reason for Dumbuya’s continued detention. There has also been no announcement of any formal charge.
The APC said Dumbuya reported voluntarily to CID headquarters in Freetown but was subsequently detained.
Senior APC official and lawyer Ady Macauley criticised the move, calling it an attack on freedom of expression and alleging selective enforcement of the law.
In a statement on social media, Macauley said President Julius Maada Bio had previously made strong public remarks against political opponents, including describing former president Ernest Bai Koroma and his administration as corrupt and later as “Ayampies,” without facing police action.
He also cited a presidential address following the 2020 Pademba Road Prison killings in which President Bio referred to some citizens as terrorists, saying no investigation followed.
“But today, Lansana Dumbuya is detained for calling President Bio ‘tifi tifi jankoliko,’” Macauley said.
Macauley further questioned the government’s accountability record, pointing to unresolved allegations contained in recent audit reports, including claims of unaccounted public funds and irregular expenditure by members of the presidential entourage.
The APC said it remained committed to lawful political engagement but warned against what it described as intimidation of opposition voices.
Attempts to obtain comment from the police and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party were unsuccessful.
